John MacKinnon has lived in Deasland, one of Canberra's oldest houses, for more than 40 years. Photo: Jamila Toderas
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In 1890, on a grazing plain which spreads across what is now the Gold Creek Golf Course and the growing sprawl of Nicholls, the beautiful homestead "Deasland" was built by Canberra pioneer George Harcourt.
The 125-year-old property has survived the city's development - slowly being hemmed in on all sides by suburbia.
What the homestead will not survive, however, is the scurge of Mr Fluffy.
- An estimated 30,000 Canberrans are expected to learn they might have been exposed to Mr Fluffy asbestos as either former owners or renters of the 1021 homes confirmed to contain the toxic insulation.
- Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing a push from inside the Liberal Party to prevent Australia signing up to any binding emissions reduction targets at the upcoming Paris climate talks.
- The ACT government has outlined its plans for moving about 1500 public housing tenants from ageing buildings over four years, including from along Northbourne Avenue and the Allawah and Bega Court flats.
- Emeritus Professor Anthony Shaddock is drawing on experts on autism and children's behaviour from around the country to help with his inquiry into the way Canberra's schools handle challenging behaviour and disabilities.
- Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has apologised to victims of the attack before a judge formally sentenced him to death.
Brumbies winger Henry Speight has been suspended for five weeks. Photo: Gallo Images
The Brumbies will be without Wallabies winger Henry Speight for the rest of the Super Rugby season after he was suspended for five weeks.
Speight will miss Saturday night's semi-final against the Hurricanes in Wellington, the final if the Brumbies qualify and the first two games of Australia's Rugby Championship campaign against South Africa and Argentina.
- Australian tennis stars Bernard Tomic, Samantha Stosur and Nick Kyrgios are all dealing with coaching compromises less than a week out from Wimbledon.
- Josh Jackson's Origin hopes remain alive – relying on a tackle by teammate Josh Reynolds to help him successfully have his dangerous throw charge downgraded at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.
- They are usually arch enemies and could meet in the Super Rugby final but the Brumbies will be taking a leaf out of the Waratahs' book to keep their championship dream alive.
- An in-built determination to overcome the odds will come in handy for Canberra raiders winger Jordan Rapana as he looks to keep his place in Canberra's first-choice line-up after the Raiders signed Newcastle centre Joey Leilua.
- Australia's horror draw at the World Cup continues after the Matildas were pitted against reigning world champions Japan in the quarter-finals but, according to their coach and the squad, they wouldn't have it any other way.
Drive safely on your commute and let us know if you see any traffic problems on the roads via @canberratimes, but only when its safe to do so.
Environment Minister Simon Corbell will showcase The Canberra Nature Map at an event at the CSIRO headquarters from 1-2pm. The ACT database provides locations and photographs of more than 10,000 records of plants and mushrooms across the capital.
Author and former NSW shadow attorney general Andrew Tink will host a workshop on biographies at ANU's National Centre of Biography from 12 noon.
Catch Kelly, the fast moving, action-packed story portraying the infamous cult heroes Ned and Dan Kelly in a new light, at Canberra Theatre Centre's the Playhouse. Cost: from $40.
Discover the magic of black truffles at The Truffle Festival Canberra Region - learn from celebrity chefs and truffle experts, join a truffle hunt, take a cooking class, or indulge in truffle dishes at local restaurants, cafes and wineries. At various venues until August 16.
Members of the Poor Toms Sydney Dry Gin company. Top, from left to right: Amy Donaldson, Carita Nardi, and Jesse Kennedy. Bottom, from left to right: Griffin Blumer and Dominic Lorrimer. Photo: Dominic K Lorrimer
It started with two Canberra lads and a mutual love of gin. Now Jesse Kennedy and Griffin Blumer have turned that love into a crowdfunded microdistillery - Poor Toms Gin.
Just a week after starting a Pozible campaign they've raised more than $30,000 and are frantically distilling new batches of gin to meet demand.
Kingston IGA supermarket had to throw out frozen food including ice cream after the store's freezer failed. Photo: Graham Tidy
Did someone say free ice cream?
A supermarket freezer malfunction that resulted in dozens of tubs of ice cream being piled up on a southside street caused Canberrans to lose their cool on Wednesday night.
Trolleys full of various brands of ice cream from Kingston IGA that appeared in the laneway behind the store were shared on social media and sparked a meltdown from sweet-tooths who fancied a free tub or two of free Neapolitan.
Today: Cloudy. Morning fog and a possible shower. Min 4, Max 15.
Friday: Mostly sunny. Min 0, Max 15.
Saturday: Mostly sunny. Min -2, Max 15.
Sunday: Mostly Sunny. Min -1, Max 15.
Monday: Mostly Sunny. Min -2 Max 14.
Tuesday: Possible shower. Min -4 Max 13.
